Saint of the day December 6, 2024

Saint Nicholas was an early Christian bishop of the ancient Greek city of Myra (modern-day Demre, Turkey). During his life, he gained the reputation of uncommon concern for the needs of his people, and after his death, he became renowned as a great miracle worker.

Nicholas had a profound understanding of the method Jesus used throughout his ministry. When you read the four Gospels, you discover that Jesus almost never preached before he attended to some human need. He would heal someone—make the lame walk or the blind see. He would feed the hungry, often thousands of people at a time.

Jesus’ concern for people’s physical and material needs is one of the things that set him apart from the spiritual leaders of his time. He wasn’t just interested in the spiritual well-being of people; he was interested in the whole person. Nicholas understood that. He understood that it is hard to listen to the Word of God if you are hungry and thirsty. He realized that it is even difficult to believe in God if your children are dying of hunger.

Poverty has been an obstacle to flourishing for billions of people throughout history—and it is still an obstacle today. The saints realized that we each have the power to help some people overcome this obstacle. The haunting truth comes by reflecting on two simple questions: (1) Is there really any good reason why a billion people alive today are starving to death? (2) How is it possible or acceptable that we allow one in five children in America to go to bed hungry each night? As Christians, we are called to serve the hungry, the lonely, the poor, the uneducated. They are our brothers and sisters. They are Jesus in disguise; they are Jesus in our midst. There are many stories about Saint Nicholas. They are stories of love and compassion. They are stories of self-sacrifice and great generosity. It’s impossible to know if they are true, but if they are not, we should make them true in our own lives.

One of these stories is about a widowed man with three daughters. He was old and poor. Having no money for dowries, upon his death, his daughters would most likely be sold into slavery or prostitution. One night while everybody was sleeping, Nicholas rode past the family’s home and flung a red velvet bag filled with gold coins, through the window of the old man’s home. The father heard the noise and saw Nicholas riding off, and he spent the rest of his life praising God for sending Nicholas to them.

This is just one of many ways he generously interceded for his people, providing for their needs or giving special gifts on significant occasions in their lives. Religious leaders throughout history have a reputation for being disconnected from the daily realities of the people they claim to serve. This is why Jesus and the prophets were repulsed by so many so-called spiritual leaders. But Nicholas had the heart of a servant and was deeply in touch with the needs of his people.

Reflection

As Christmas approaches each year, something changes. People become more cheerful and lighthearted, thoughtful and generous. In a word, as Christmas nears each year, people become more human. There is something about the spirit of Christmas that brings out the best in people. Christmas today is a fascinating amalgamation of the birth of Jesus and the legend of a fourth-century bishop. There is something about Christmas that draws people, even non-Christians, to celebrate.

Saint Nicholas did something every day to demonstrate the generosity of God to the people of his time. The gift that Saint Nicholas gives is nothing short of freedom from poverty and desperation. The life of Saint Nicholas is an example of faith made flesh in actions of true charity.